Introduction

Why do prices of houses, cars, gasoline, and food fluctuate? What explains increases and decreases in interest rates? Why do prices of stocks and bonds change almost every second? Why does one gas station charge more than an other? Why are teachers’ and nurses’ salaries so much lower than those of television celebrities, famous athletes and corporate CEOs? Why is it less expensive to visit some foreign countries as their foreign exchange rates lower in value?

In a free market economy, the answer to all of these questions is: “It is because of changes in supply and demand.” When the demand for a product increases, then its equilibrium price increases, and vice versa. When the supply increases, then the price decreases, and vice versa.

The mechanism of changing prices in a free market economy is powerful. When buyers want more of a product, and can afford it, they communicate this by buying more of the product. This increases the product’s price. The higher price gives producers an incentive (and the financial ability) to make more of the product. The subsequent greater supply satisfies the greater need. The greater supply eventually also brings the price back down for most products (assuming the cost of production doesn’t change). Overall satisfaction and the nation’s wealth increase because buyers and sellers communicate to each other and satisfy each other’s needs.

The free market system described above has many advantages and has contributed to high standards of living in many industrialized nations. It has some disadvantages, as well. However, most economists agree that the advantages of a free market outweigh the disadvantages.